Aston Villa have doubts over forwards Ross McCormack and Gabriel Agbonlahor for the visit of Cardiff City.

Both players have ankle injuries, but Jack Grealish could start after an impressive showing as a substitute in Villa's last game - the 1-1 draw at Brighton.

Cardiff defender Joe Bennett, who left Villa Park in August, is set to take on his former club for the first time.

Despite a sickness bug affecting his squad, boss Neil Warnock hopes to name the same side which beat Huddersfield.

Saturday's game sees two of the English Football League's most experienced managers coming up against each other.

Warnock, who fancied the Villa job in the summer, has managed 12 different clubs, three of which - Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace - have also been among Steve Bruce's eight-club managerial career.

Match facts

  • Villa have won 10 of their last 12 home league meetings with Cardiff City, who have not won in Birmingham B6 since December 1954.
  • Cardiff have failed to register a league goal at Villa Park in any of their last four trips there, having last scored in February 1970, in a 1-1 draw.
  • Villa are the only unbeaten side at home in the Championship, although they have only won three of their eight games at Villa Park.
  • Neil Warnock has not won any of his previous six league games against Villa, with four different teams.
  • Villa have drawn more games this season (10 in 17 games) than any other side in the top four tiers.
  • Cardiff's only clean sheet this season came on the opening day, also in Birmingham, across the city at St Andrew's.